Thanks Oscar and morning crew. Half-time round-up: Shares...

Thanks Oscar and morning crew.


Half-time round-up:

Shares retreated for a third session as political worries in the US depressed global risk appetite.  

The ASX 200 fell as low as 5708 before trimming its loss to 30 points or 0.5% at 5717 as gains in energy stocks +0.6%, consumer staples +0.3% and metals & mining +0.1% helped temper falls in telecoms -1.4%, health -1% and financials -0.7%.

The retreat followed losses on Wall Street on Friday as Donald Trump let go another key player in his team and as speculation mounted as to the president's ability to progress debt negotiations as the US budget once again nears a ceiling.

"There has been increased focus on the US debt ceiling from strategists on Friday and through the weekend, with projections, the US Treasury's cash reserves could be exhausted by mid-October," IG strategist Chris Weston told Fairfax. "One suspects the debt ceiling negotiations, which perhaps were not expected to be a major market influence should garner greater attention now given the more fragmented political situation in the US."

China's Shanghai Composite put on 0.15% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng 0.33%. Japan's Nikkei shed 0.44%. Dow futures were recently down four points or 0.02%.

Crude oil futures improved four cents or 0.08% this morning to US$48.55 a barrel. Gold futures dipped 60 cents or 0.05% to US$1,291 an ounce. The dollar was buying 79.33 US cents.


Three down days in a row but the local index remains well within its recent trading range. Not a lot of excitement at the spec end this morning - or if there was, I missed it. Got a pip from TAS and caught LBT at the low. Could use some more action.